Safe water in Greece: notices, drought and what to store

Short answer. Phaenyx found no national register of boil-water notices for Greece: warnings come from your local water utility. In Athens, EYDAP lists scheduled and emergency supply cuts by municipality, with an estimated restoration time ². Civil Protection's 2023 leaflet asks every household to be self-sufficient for at least three days, with 4 litres of water per person per day ⁴. The median Greek city faces "extremely high" water stress ⁶.

How do I know if my tap water is unsafe?

The notice will come from your local water utility: water is supplied by local utilities, and no national register of boil-water or do-not-drink notices was found in Greece. Keep its phone number with your emergency papers. How official warnings reach you is explained on our Greece alerts page.

In the Athens area, EYDAP tests raw and drinking water daily in its laboratories at Galatsi and Acharnes, and states that its drinking water fully meets the national standard (Joint Ministerial Decision 67322/2017) ¹. Its "Scheduled or emergency water interruptions" page lists current cuts by municipality and street, with the time supply should return ². Customer service is 1022 ².

If you are told to boil water or not to drink it, follow the local instruction. See What to do during a boil-water notice, Do-not-drink notices and No running water.

How much water should I store?

Store 4 litres per person per day, for drinking and hygiene ⁴. This is the figure in the General Secretariat for Civil Protection's 2023 leaflet Make your own plan, which asks households to be self-sufficient for at least three days ⁴. For a household of four over three days, that is 48 litres (simple multiplication of the official figure). The full list is on our Greece emergency supplies page. For storage and treatment, see How much water to store per person per day?, Water storage containers and Water purification.

Is Greece short of water?

Yes, structurally. In WRI's Aqueduct 4.0 model, the population-weighted median of Greek cities is in the "extremely high" category for water stress today and in the 2050 business-as-usual projection; drought risk is "medium" ⁶. These are medians across 1,071 cities: a given town can sit higher or lower.

For Athens, EYDAP publishes a daily report of its raw-water reserves ³; EYDAP monitors the water quality of four reservoirs: Marathon, Yliki, Mornos and Evinos ¹. Phaenyx found no official national page listing current water-use restrictions. In a dry spell, follow your utility's instructions and see Drought preparedness.

What if I have a private well?

Testing and treatment are your own responsibility: no official Greek guidance for private well owners was found. See Private well emergencies.

What should I do after a flood?

Civil Protection advises turning off the water supply in case the water network has been damaged ⁵. It warns that after a flood, floodwater may be contaminated if it has carried rubbish, objects and dead animals ⁵. Before using a flooded building again, it says to check the electricity, water and sewerage systems, and to follow the instructions of the authorities ⁵. See Water safety after a flood.

A household plan can keep your water stock, your utility's contacts and your warning channels in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Is Athens tap water safe to drink?

EYDAP states that its drinking water fully meets the legal quality requirements, based on daily laboratory tests ¹. If a local notice says otherwise, follow it.

Where can I see water cuts in Athens?

On EYDAP's "Scheduled or emergency water interruptions" page, by municipality, with an estimated restoration time ².

How much water should a family store in Greece?

4 litres per person per day for at least three days: 48 litres for four people ⁴.

Does Greece have water shortages?

The median Greek city is "extremely high" for water stress, now and in 2050 ⁶.